1 ACACIA eNEWSLETTER | MAY - JUNE 2012

Issue: 03 Volume: 17 May - June 2012

West Michigan completes $500,000 Campaign

The West Michigan Conference celebrated the successful comple-tion of the Grand Rapids District campaign for Africa University at the Annual Conference gathering in June. Campaign co-chairs, the Rev. Laurie Haller and Mr. Ed. Edwardson announced that a $5,000 gift made June 7th took the district to its goal of $500,000 for construction of the Ubuntu Welcome Center.

Mr. James H. Salley, the University’s chief advancement officer, also announced that an

individual donor will match West Michigan’s gift and fund construction of phase two of the project. The cen-ter will serve as a venue for educa-tional conferences as well as housing for visitors and volunteers in mission groups.

Salley invited members of the con-ference to travel to Zimbabwe in March 2013 to attend the dedication of the Ubuntu Center and activities to mark Africa University’s 20th anni-versary.

Remember Africa University in Your Will. Give Now.

Indiana Conference to Launch New AU

CampaignIndiana United Methodists are

preparing to launch a new campaign to endow a chair of agriculture and provide additional scholarships for students at Africa University

The Rev. Bill Keith, senior pas-tor of St. Marks’ UMC in Carmel, will chair the campaign committee in Indiana and Bishop J. Lawrence McCleskey, executive vice presi-dent for development, will provide support from the Africa University Development Office.

The Africa University Choir is expected to help formally launch the campaign during the Indiana Annual Conference session in 2013. In keeping with the theme for 2013, “Transform the World: Invest in World-Changing Disciples”, Indiana United Methodists have already built four dormitories on the Africa University campus and they pro-vide ongoing support for students through endowed and direct schol-arships.

Describing the initiative as a “God thing and a wonderful mis-sion connection”, Bishop Michael J. Coyner and other leaders brought it before the annual conference for consideration and approval on June 8.

400+ graduates in class of 2012....2

From the Planned Giving Desk: New Gifts Expand Library Collection...2

In thIs Issue

Bishop Coyner

Multilateral Partners Reinvest in AU

In June, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and the World Bank-funded African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), signed new multi-year agreements

with Africa University. WIPO and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization, (ARIPO), extended their support for the master’s degree pro-gram in Intellectual Property (MIP) at Africa University for another five years. The agreement includes financing for eight part-time lecturers and the enrol-ment of up to 25 graduate students each year.

Supported by a grant of $800,000, the ACBF’s partnership with the University now includes a project of lectures and workshops by eminent persons which focuses on peace building, conflict trans-formation, leadership development and responsive governance.

ARIPO Director General, Mr Gift Sibanda, with Dr. Fanuel Tagwira of AU; and Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama of WIPO, at signing ceremony in June.

(Left) The campaign task force with Mr. James H. Salley, AU’s chief advancement offi-cer, and Mr. Eric Mulanda, a Theology student and for-mer student union president, during a 2011 presentation. (Right) Campaign co-chairs in Grand Rapids District: Mr. Ed Edwardson and Rev. Dr. Laurie Haller.

2 ACACIA eNEWSLETTER | MAY - JUNE 2012

The Jokomo Yamada Library at Africa University hosted students, faculty and trustees for an official handover event for donations to its archives and general holdings. The event, held on June 8th, celebrated two gifts—histori-cal documents from the late Mr. James Lane Perry and Mrs. Carolyn Shugart Perry; and a collection of current books and journals from the late Dr. Patricia M. Mataure-Sithole.

The Perrys served as agricultural missionaries in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) from 1959 to 1964. University Archivist Gordon F. Mawere describes their donation as invaluable to the work of building “a thorough and authentic documentary heritage of The United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe and Africa.”

The Library received more than 680 books and 100 journals from the estate of the late Patricia Mataure-Sithole, a pioneer faculty member who passed away in April 2011, after a long battle with cancer. Her brother, the Hon. Michael Mataure, described the material as “her educational arsenal during the nearly three decades that she worked as a teacher, lecturer, researcher, preacher and mentor.” He also noted that his sister matured academically and blossomed spiritually as a result of her association with Africa University.

In thanking the Mataure and Sithole families for the donation, the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Fanuel Tagwira, indicated that the collection was especially beneficial to students because it contains so many current and notable titles. The Mataure-Sithole collection includes English Language, Literature, Education, and other materials.

More than 400 students graduated from Africa University on June 9, becoming the institution’s 18th group of graduates since it opened its doors in 1992.

In the class of 2012, 116 students received master’s degrees and 284 received bachelor’s degrees. Forty-eight percent of the students in this graduating class were female, a dem-onstration of the high commitment that Africa University has to maintain-ing gender equity in its student body. Chiedza Dziva and seven other women finished at the top in fields ranging from business to agriculture.

Twenty African countries were repre-sented in the class of 2012, which also included the first 33 graduates from the University’s new certificate pro-gram in medical laboratory technology. The commencement speaker, Geoffrey Onyeama, an official with the World Intellectual Property Organization, told the graduates to use their imagination, innovation and creativity to become the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Gifts Expand AU Library Collection

celebrate wIth us!book a tour to au / zImbabwe

Educational Opportunities Tours (EO) and AU are offering exciting 9-10 day group tours. See the campus and environs. Attend the 20th anniversary celebrations. Take in the splendor of the Victoria Falls and enjoy Zimbabwe’s unparalled natural beau-ty and wildlife. For more information visit: www.eo.travelwithus.com

Ms. Elaine Jenkins, AU’s director of planning giving, looks on as Mr. Howard Hogo, acting University Librarian, presents a title from the Mataure-Sithole book collection to the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Fanuel Tagwira. (Right) Faculty members reviewing the two new collections.

400+ Graduates in the Class of 2012

Alumna/parent, Mrs. Sophie Munjoma and son, Tafadzwa.

Left: Best overall graduate, accounting major, Chiedza Dziva

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The graduating class included young people from twenty African nations.